Meet Gil

Check out this cutie pie. Meet Gil, Rita’s 3-year-old severe CH kitty. Since he’s severe, this little one has many limitations, including his inability to walk. He can drag himself around, and definitely loves it when he gets some snuggle time! Learn more:

What is he able to do?

Everyone asks me how he goes to the bathroom. Obviously he can’t get to the kitty litter box. He has me trained pretty well – he waves his arms around and meows when he wants to go.

I put him on a doggie pad every night before I go to bed, let him get in position. I help by holding up his tail, and he pees in a dipper I put under his bottom. He poops onto a Kleenex. We have a good routine going.

He stays on my bed at night in a big doggie bed next to me. During the day he stays in my office in one of his other beds. He isn’t very active and doesn’t care for playing on the floor, but he likes to be cuddled and he loves his catnip once in a while.

Do you have any funny stories about him (related to CH)? Or perhaps a story about how he figured out how to do something CH cats “can’t” do?

When he cleans himself, he washes the air or his blanket with his paw. He’s not quite sure where his face is!

Gil hates cat kibble. When I give one to him he goes wild with his paw and tries to bury it. When he’s had enough to eat he will do the same thing or spit it all over the place.

He figured out how to stop bobbing his head when he eats and drinks. He used to have a hard time getting his food because his head would bob up and down; but now he’s much more stable. You’d think of a cow chewing its cud when Gil eats yogurt. I still can’t figure out what he’s chewing on!

Has he ever hurt himself because of his CH?

When he was younger he would jump like a kangaroo. Once he fell from the couch to the floor doing this, but he didn’t seem any the worse for it.

He doesn’t jump like that anymore, thank goodness. He does flip over sometimes and I have to make sure he’s not near any hard surfaces so he doesn’t bang his head.

What do you think people need to know about CH?

They need to know these cats are special and need a lot of love, time, understanding and patience. CH cats are worth the effort they give a lot of love in return.